Furnace-grate



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J STORBR.

(No Model.)

FURNACE GRATE.

Patented Aug. 25, 1885.

'KWJ'WXQ John to r em W fi-ZM:

N. PETERS, ProwLmw -z hun Washington, D. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. STORER.

FURNACE GBATE. No. 324,966. Patented Aug. 25, 1885.

WITNESSES: INVENTOE flaw WM 30m tmv izym/ ATTORNEYS Nrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN STORER, OF MARLBOROUGH, NE\V YORK.

FURNACE-G RATE.

ZPECIFIGATIOII forming part of Letters Patent No. 324,956, dated August 25, 1885.

Application filed November 6, 18:4.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, JOHN Sronnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at l\1[arlborou gh,

in the county of Ulster and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in FurnaceGrates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists in the combination, with a furnace-grate and with the ash-pit situated beneath the grate, of a trap-door which leads from the fire-chamber into the ash-pit, so that when the trapdoor is opened by swinging it upward and outward it serves as a support for a rake, so that the ashes, as the same aecumulate on the grate, can be raked down in to the ash-pit, while the door of the ash-pit remains firmly closed in order to prevent the escape of dust. The trap-door is by preference situated between the front ends of the grate-bars and the furnace-door, so that it can be conveniently raised when the furnace-door is opened. A suitable spring-catch retains the door in its raised position, and in the ashpit is placed a sprinkler for the purpose of laying the dust during the operation of damp ing the ashes from the fire-chamber into the ash'pit.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section. Fig. 2 is a transverse section in the plane :20 00, Fig. 1.

Similarletters indicate corresponding parts.

In these drawings the letter A designates the fire-chamber. B is the door leading into the fire-chamber. O is the ash-pit, and D the door leading into the ash-pit. On the bottom of the fire-chamber are placed the grate-bars E, and between the front ends of the gratebars and the furnace-door Bis situated atrapdoor, F, which leads down into the ash-pit. This trap-door swings on hinges a, and it opens upward and outward toward the furnace-door B, so that when it is thrown open it occupies the position shown in the drawings. In the trap-door F is a hole, I), so that when the furnacedoor B is opened a poker or other instrument can be inserted into said hole and the trap-door can be opened. On the trapdoor is secured a spring-catch, a, which, when said door is opened, engages with a lug, (I, so as to retain the door in its (No model.)

open position. The outer end of the springcateh c conne ts by a chain, c, with a rod, f, which is provided with a handle, and which slides in the front plate, G, of the furnace. A spring, 72, has a tendency to force the rodfinward, in order to keep the handle as much as possible out of the way. On the interior of the front plate, G, beneath the bottom of the fire chamber, is situated a sprinkler, H, which is supplied with water under pressure by means of a pipe, I. The ash-pit door D is provided with a hole, 2', into which is fitted the handle of a rake, J.

\Vhen the fireman desires to rake out the ashes from the fire-chamber, he opens the trapdoor F, and as the same is retained in its open position by the spring-catch c, it forms a support for the rake which serves to rake the ashes out through the opening of the trapdoor. The ash-pit door is firmly closed, and as the ashes are being dumped into the ashpit they are exposed to a spray of water issuing from the sprinkler H, so that they are cooled off, and at the same time the dust is laid. As the ashes accumulate in the front portion of the ash-pit they are pushed back by means of the rake J, which can be operated without opening the door of the ash-pit. By these means the fireman is enabled to discharge the ashes from the fire-chamber without permitting any dust to escape from the furnace, which is a great dcsideratum in places where the furnace is put up in a room part of which is occupied as a store-room.

By pulling the handle g outward the springcatch 0 is thrown out of gear with the lug d and the trap-door is closed.

The handle of the rake J is by preference made in sections, for the purpose of facilitating the operation of putting said rake in position.

I am aware that it is not new to arrange a drop-plate in front of the grate-bars of a furnace, so that such plate can be swung downward to permit the ashes to be drawn through the opening into the ash-pit. My invention differs therefrom in that my trap-door is so hinged that it can swing upward and outward to an upright position in front of the grate, and thereby subserve the function of a support for the rake in its reciprocations to draw the ashes through the trap-door opening. I am also aware that it is not broadly new to throw jets of water into the ash-pits of furnaces; but such I do not broadly claim.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a furnace-grate and an ash-pit below the same, of a trap-door arranged in front of the grate-bars and hinged to swing upward and outward to an upright position and constitute a support for the rake to draw the ashes through the opening of the trap-door, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a furnace-grate and an ash-pit beneath the same, of a trapdoor hinged to swing upward and outward to an upright position and constitute a support for the rake to draw the ashes through the trap-door opening, and a spring-catch for sustaining the trap-door in its upright position, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a furnace-grate and an ash-pit below the same, of a trap-door hinged to swing upward and outward to an upright position in front of the grate and constitute a support for a rake to draw the ashes through the trap-door opening, a spring-catch carried by the trap-door for holding the latter in its upright position, and a handle outside the furnace and connected with the springcatch for releasing the same to close the trapdoor, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a furnace-grate and an ash-pit below the same, of the trapdoor hinged to swing upward and outward to an upright position in front of the grate and constitute a support for a rake to draw the ashes through the trap door opening, a sprinkler, H, arranged adjacent to the front plate of the furnace beneath the trapdoor opening, and a pipe, I, for delivering water to the sprinkler, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN STORER. [L. s.]

WVitnesses':

W. HAUFF, E. F. KASTENI-IUBER. 

